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Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?
- Thread starter Huntn
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Now freed from the millstone of Shaw Brothers / Kung Fu movie fandoms (may resume writing for Shaw Brothers PR when things die down here), I can kick back and enjoy the movies again.
Beyond Sun Chung's films, I am not big on the gross out Shaw Brothers horrors of the early 80s, however I did a complete about face on the earliest of the SB goopy ghoulies, Black Magic. Largely because of Ti Lung and Ku Feng (as the black magician.)
Wealthy widow Luo Yin (Tanny who appeared in many SB horrors after this) set her googily eyes on Ti Lung's Xu Nuo, a beefcake construction engineer who is about to marry Lily Li. To say Xu is not interested is an understatement. Meanwhile, Lo Lieh's shafty, greedy drifter wants Luo Yin and her money and enlists the services of the big bad black magician (Ku Feng.) Ah, but the sorcerer also wants Luo Yin (along with her money & boobs) and promptly makes sure the love spell he whips up for Lo to use on Miss Luo only works for 24 hours. She figures this out, but is so madly in lust over Xu Nuo she hires the malignant magician to make Xu hers. This involves blood, the pus-like drool from the newly burned mouth of a corpse and breast milk. YAY! And so begins the supernatural tug of war over Xu Nuo and Miss Luo.
Ti Lung gets play around with being spellbound, including biting someone's arm when they try to restrain him, but his glossy eyed trance like state is the most fun to watch. (He'd do something like this in the opening sequence of The Spiritual Boxer which I also love because it sells the mystic elements of being a spiritual boxer.) The make ups are great (including those terrific Hammer Horror-like face dissolves), though the animated FX in the finale are a little goofy. Of course, there's some nudity and light gore mixed in with the exploitation elements, but this is a nifty little movie about being careful what you wish for.
Given how utterly go-for-broke-gross and gonzoid Shaw and other Hong Kong horror films would become in the subsequent decade this might seem a bit hokey or creaky to people who are huge on FX and set pieces. I enjoy the characterizations and story here, something many Italian and later HK horrors dropped the ball on for striking (and uber gross visuals.)
Glad I picked up the region 2 blu ray now as they becoming a bit scarce (not sure if 88 Films will reprint all of their Shaw Brothers titles or not), but if they release Black Magic 2, I'll snatch that up too.
I enjoy watching the villain get their just desserts and supernaturally slanted good vs. evil stories are my favorite kind of horror.
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Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2017)
The wife said we go so, it's ok, humor heavy, heavy CGI which not only means CGI, but frantic hard to follow all the elements on the screen. It was enjoyable, but this will never be in my library.
Not nearly memorable enough.
I enjoyed Sylvester Stallone, and interesting digital face job on Kurt Russel, but it's (face digitizing) still not up to snuff as far as being indistinguishable.
[doublepost=1494298300][/doublepost]Lilly's of the Field (1963)- Enjoyable human interest story of a man who stops on his way somewhere to help some German Nuns build a chapel.
The wife said we go so, it's ok, humor heavy, heavy CGI which not only means CGI, but frantic hard to follow all the elements on the screen. It was enjoyable, but this will never be in my library.
Not nearly memorable enough.
I enjoyed Sylvester Stallone, and interesting digital face job on Kurt Russel, but it's (face digitizing) still not up to snuff as far as being indistinguishable.
[doublepost=1494298300][/doublepost]Lilly's of the Field (1963)- Enjoyable human interest story of a man who stops on his way somewhere to help some German Nuns build a chapel.
I'm struggling to think of two more different movies!Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2017)
The wife said we go so, it's ok, humor heavy, heavy CGI which not only means CGI, but frantic hard to follow all the elements on the screen. It was enjoyable, but this will never be in my library.
Not nearly memorable enough.
I enjoyed Sylvester Stallone, and interesting digital face job on Kurt Russel, but it's (face digitizing) still not up to snuff as far as being indistinguishable.
[doublepost=1494298300][/doublepost]Lilly's of the Field (1963)- Enjoyable human interest story of a man who stops on his way somewhere to help some German Nuns build a chapel.
[doublepost=1494361991][/doublepost]
Unless the building was on fire that's scandalous!I started Rouge One but had to stop after 15mins tops. Hope I can finish it soon, looked promising so far.
Oh hell, they digitized Kurt? Blinks and says rubbish.
The Fog (1980)
Funny, with my dad passing last year one of my earliest John Carpenter freaked me out memories (besides being forced to watch Halloween 2 in Junior High social studies class) was seeing The Fog on TV in my late teens waiting for my dad to pick me up and being scared stupid.
Basically, coastal town founded by the plundering of gold from a leper crew who wanted to settle a mile away from Antonio Bay. For the 100th celebration, the snooty town elders unveil a statute while the local reverend discovers the truth and gets entirely too drunk for most of the running time. Meanwhile, those same lepers rise from the depths of sea aided by "an unearthly fog". They are out to kill six people (as there were six conspirators among the town's founders who hatched the idea to murder these folks) including hitch hiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis), DJ and single mom (Adrienne Barbeau) and her son and other folks.
Now I am mostly annoyed by the cast (I understand Carpenter wrote the vast majority of Antonio Bay denizens to be cannon fodder for the vengeful zombie lepers hiding in the title mist), but Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Adkins and Jamie Lee Curtis are fun. Though nothing tops Rob Bottin as Blake (the leader of the undead crew.) I still like the core story and Bottin's simple but effective makeups for the lepers are pretty great. My most favorite moment remains when the priest gets his (trying not to spoil), but that sound effect is so deeply embedded into my brain it is the first thing I think of when I ponder this movie. Upon delving deeper into foreign genre films, I've shied away from being a Carpenterphile, but I still love Escape From New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China and Assault on Precinct 13 but this is a decent ghost story. I understand why The Fog is no longer in my collection though.
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Living Dead at The Manchester Morgue (1974) - well I tried to watch this again last night and was so scared, I shut it off. The sound effects are among most the unnerving to me from any horror film and just how Jorge Grau shot the English countryside made it feel claustrophobic and menacing even before the zombies show up. It's amazing what sound can do, given this is a rather witty and gory rethink of Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Still, this is the only zombie film I attempt to watch with any regularity. For every four tries, I get one in. It is rather silly how much this gets under my skin for the sounds alone, but the story is creepy.
So, new pesticide machine attacks the nervous systems of insects, killing them but resurrects the newly dead (and makes infants go nuts.) Oops. Lovely young hippie couple George and Edna (Ray Lovelock and Cristine Galbo) are fingered for the gruesome murders by a fascist cop unwilling to believe the dead walk. The movie becomes more of a elder vs. youth tale as it goes along and sheds a lot of blood, boobs and guts along the way. This has a brilliant Twilight Zone like ending and the natty but fun British dubs are great. For some reason, Blue Underground recently rereleased their blu ray of this (I have the original blu but might pick this up); though like many other great BU Eurocult titles, it has been yanked from iTunes.
Thank goodness Ray Lovelock is such a babe, else I probably would skip regardless of how far in I get.
Blinks and says rubbish.The Fog (1980)
Funny, with my dad passing last year one of my earliest John Carpenter freaked me out memories (besides being forced to watch Halloween 2 in Junior High social studies class) was seeing The Fog on TV in my late teens waiting for my dad to pick me up and being scared stupid.
Basically, coastal town founded by the plundering of gold from a leper crew who wanted to settle a mile away from Antonio Bay. For the 100th celebration, the snooty town elders unveil a statute while the local reverend discovers the truth and gets entirely too drunk for most of the running time. Meanwhile, those same lepers rise from the depths of sea aided by "an unearthly fog". They are out to kill six people (as there were six conspirators among the town's founders who hatched the idea to murder these folks) including hitch hiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis), DJ and single mom (Adrienne Barbeau) and her son and other folks.
Now I am mostly annoyed by the cast (I understand Carpenter wrote the vast majority of Antonio Bay denizens to be cannon fodder for the vengeful zombie lepers hiding in the title mist), but Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Adkins and Jamie Lee Curtis are fun. Though nothing tops Rob Bottin as Blake (the leader of the undead crew.) I still like the core story and Bottin's simple but effective makeups for the lepers are pretty great. My most favorite moment remains when the priest gets his (trying not to spoil), but that sound effect is so deeply embedded into my brain it is the first thing I think of when I ponder this movie. Upon delving deeper into foreign genre films, I've shied away from being a Carpenterphile, but I still love Escape From New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China and Assault on Precinct 13 but this is a decent ghost story. I understand why The Fog is no longer in my collection though.
---
Living Dead at The Manchester Morgue (1974) - well I tried to watch this again last night and was so scared, I shut it off. The sound effects are among most the unnerving to me from any horror film and just how Jorge Grau shot the English countryside made it feel claustrophobic and menacing even before the zombies show up. It's amazing what sound can do, given this is a rather witty and gory rethink of Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Still, this is the only zombie film I attempt to watch with any regularity. For every four tries, I get one in. It is rather silly how much this gets under my skin for the sounds alone, but the story is creepy.
So, new pesticide machine attacks the nervous systems of insects, killing them but resurrects the newly dead (and makes infants go nuts.) Oops. Lovely young hippie couple George and Edna (Ray Lovelock and Cristine Galbo) are fingered for the gruesome murders by a fascist cop unwilling to believe the dead walk. The movie becomes more of a elder vs. youth tale as it goes along and sheds a lot of blood, boobs and guts along the way. This has a brilliant Twilight Zone like ending and the natty but fun British dubs are great. For some reason, Blue Underground recently rereleased their blu ray of this (I have the original blu but might pick this up); though like many other great BU Eurocult titles, it has been yanked from iTunes.
Thank goodness Ray Lovelock is such a babe, else I probably would skip regardless of how far in I get.
Oh hell, they digitized Kurt?
The start of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 shows a younger Kurt Russell in the 1980's. As reported, it was 90% makeup and 10% CGI.
Throughout the movie, they occasionally morphed Kurt Russell's appearance and this was done with CGI. I thought it was done well.
Worse, my newborn needed attention!
Finished Rogue One yesterday. Better than Force Awakens but still not totally convinced. Remember when Star Wars was considered a "Space Opera"? That aspect totally got lost. Also the general pacing is too fast imho (dialogues as well as the action and basically everything else as well). But Star Wars lately gets bonus points for not being totally awkward so it still gets a 7 from me. Oh, and that CGI revival of young Leia and Tarkin was straight up uncanny valley. Wish the would have handled it (way) more subtle - like the introducing shot of Tarking mirrored in the glass panel or via holograms - no need to give him that much focused screen time imho. And Leia should have never been shown - that took me right out of the movie. Fortunately it was the very last shot.
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Living Dead at The Manchester Morgue (1974)
Thank goodness Ray Lovelock is such a babe, else I probably would skip regardless of how far in I get.
Hell yeah, one of my absolutely fave zombi flics!! Especially since Cristina Galbó is such a likable babe too!
Love the scenes at the church and hospital! The sidestory aboutthe heroin addicted girl was a nice touch as well.
Couldn't get into The Fog really.
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Thank you for the info. I didn't believe that they would take things out in a directors cut but, after looking it up, you were correct
. I wonder how many people bought the movie and if they were smart enough to ask for a refund ?
I sit corrected. Thanks. Still going to rent way down the line though...Kurt is the only reason why I would even bother with this.
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Worse, my newborn needed attention!
Finished Rogue One yesterday. Better than Force Awakens but still not totally convinced. Remember when Star Wars was considered a "Space Opera"? That aspect totally got lost. Also the general pacing is too fast imho (dialogues as well as the action and basically everything else as well). But Star Wars lately gets bonus points for not being totally awkward so it still gets a 7 from me. Oh, and that CGI revival of young Leia and Tarkin was straight up uncanny valley. Wish the would have handled it (way) more subtle - like the introducing shot of Tarking mirrored in the glass panel or via holograms - no need to give him that much focused screen time imho. And Leia should have never been shown - that took me right out of the movie. Fortunately it was the very last shot.
[doublepost=1494423887][/doublepost]
Hell yeah, one of my absolutely fave zombi flics!! Especially since Cristina Galbó is such a likable babe too!
Love the scenes at the church and hospital! The sidestory aboutthe heroin addicted girl was a nice touch as well.
Couldn't get into The Fog really.
Agreed about Rogue One and current Star Wars overall. Ha ha, touche about Galbo!
I'm just glad that Leia won't be in episode 9. Disney have said they won't CGI her in.Worse, my newborn needed attention!
Finished Rogue One yesterday. Better than Force Awakens but still not totally convinced. Remember when Star Wars was considered a "Space Opera"? That aspect totally got lost. Also the general pacing is too fast imho (dialogues as well as the action and basically everything else as well). But Star Wars lately gets bonus points for not being totally awkward so it still gets a 7 from me. Oh, and that CGI revival of young Leia and Tarkin was straight up uncanny valley. Wish the would have handled it (way) more subtle - like the introducing shot of Tarking mirrored in the glass panel or via holograms - no need to give him that much focused screen time imho. And Leia should have never been shown - that took me right out of the movie. Fortunately it was the very last shot.
Train was better done but I wish they had an unknown do his voice. Whenever he spoke I saw this guy!
Finished Rogue One yesterday. Better than Force Awakens but still not totally convinced. Remember when Star Wars was considered a "Space Opera"? That aspect totally got lost. Also the general pacing is too fast imho (dialogues as well as the action and basically everything else as well). But Star Wars lately gets bonus points for not being totally awkward so it still gets a 7 from me. Oh, and that CGI revival of young Leia and Tarkin was straight up uncanny valley. Wish the would have handled it (way) more subtle - like the introducing shot of Tarking mirrored in the glass panel or via holograms - no need to give him that much focused screen time imho. And Leia should have never been shown - that took me right out of the movie. Fortunately it was the very last shot.
Agreed on all accounts. IMHO it was better than 7. TBH, i'm just grateful these new Star Wars movies aren't anywhere nearly as bad as the prequels (extremely low expectations). I really miss the "feel" of 'A New Hope' in these new movies as well.
They formed/acted a great and believable couple! Loving the whole build-up - not always the case with these type of movies..
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Same here. I love the first trilogy and will always consider them basically one entity - but New Hope is certainly my fav (not in the majority on that one) within them. The sense of exploration and adventure is the strongest and that is something totally void in the newer titles - let alone the humour and wit.
Btw I did like the Vader scenes in Rogue One - somewhat strange that they didn't really use him a bit more. But maybe that's for the better, who knows.
If you liked the first one, you will like the second. I rate the story line / plot worse in the Guardians of the Galaxy 2 but the character interaction / humor was at least the same if not better than the first one.
I never realized that Bradley Cooper did the voice for Rocket or that Vin Diesel did the voice for Groot
.
The Vader scenes were basically added after the initial cut. Disney said it needed it.
I have to agree he added to the Star Wars feel and the continuity with the OT.
If you liked the first one, you will like the second. I rate the story line / plot worse in the Guardians of the Galaxy 2 but the character interaction / humor was at least the same if not better than the first one.
I never realized that Bradley Cooper did the voice for Rocket or that Vin Diesel did the voice for Groot
I did not like the first one, but hey, what do I know?
Re: Lovelock and Galbo, agreed. Nice characterization and ditto on the build up. Part of the reason why its my favorite of those films, it has a solid story and delivers on all fronts.
Star Wars: my friend was sort of lackluster throughout Rogue One until Vader showed up. Then she went crazy. Guess that says something. I miss the original Star Wars feeling as well, but I digress.
I did not like the first one, but hey, what do I know?
Everyone has different taste which is why I'm loath to recommend one (or a book). I think that in the case of the Guardians of the Galaxy, people will feel the same way for the second that they felt for the first (i.e. If you didn't care for the first, I can't see you liking the second either).
